Brown twins get generous offers of help

S.F. PEOPLE

Updated 7:20 am, Saturday, August 18, 2012

Ken Newman waits at Uncle Vito's pizza restaurant on Bush Street for the chance to meet Marian B. Brown, who dines there daily.

Ken Newman waits at Uncle Vito's pizza restaurant on Bush Street for the chance to meet Marian B. Brown, who dines there daily.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

Image 2 of 3

Parked in their usual window seat at Uncle Vito's, just below the crest of Nob Hill, the twins are barely through their first glass of merlot in this photo from Sept., 22, 2008. One welcomes an adoring tourist from Phoenix while the other laughs encouragement into the ear of a businessman dining by himself. Marian and Vivian Brown are the twins famous for bringing San Francisco's quirky spirit to the world, via numerous TV and billboard appearances. Don't ask their age, as they'll politely tell you it's none of your business -- though Vivian does admit she's 8 minutes older, saying this if only to remind Marian who's in charge. They argue this for a bit then break into one of their signature tunes ("San Francisco, open your golden gate...") and all is forgotten. less

Parked in their usual window seat at Uncle Vito's, just below the crest of Nob Hill, the twins are barely through their first glass of merlot in this photo from Sept., 22, 2008. One welcomes an adoring tourist ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

Image 3 of 3

The table usually reserved for the Brown twins sits empty at Uncle Vito's on Friday Aug, 17, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

The table usually reserved for the Brown twins sits empty at Uncle Vito's on Friday Aug, 17, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

Brown twins get generous offers of help

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

Offers of help for San Francisco's famous Brown twins are flooding in, responding to revelations of the hard times that have befallen the beloved 85-year-old sisters.

"The outpouring of concern has been overwhelming," said David Dubiner, owner of Uncle Vito's, the pizza restaurant on Bush Street where the twins have dined regularly in a window seat for 15 years. "I never realized how dear the twins were to San Francisco."

The offers of assistance came after The Chronicle described the recent troubles of Vivian A. and Marian B. Brown, diminutive sisters who have dressed alike, walked alike and talked alike for 40 years as fixtures on the San Francisco social scene. Vivian has been hospitalized at California Pacific Medical Center since a fall about a month ago, and Marian is struggling to cope, psychologically and financially.

An article in Thursday's Chronicle suggested that one helpful gesture would be for people to swing by Uncle Vito's at 4 p.m. and buy Marian her daily pizza. The first call to the Nob Hill restaurant came at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and they didn't stop, Dubiner said.

One man in San Mateo offered his credit card number for $150 worth of pizza and chocolate cake to cover more than a week of Marian's regular order.

People have also been calling Uncle Vito's to offer cab fare for Marian to visit her sister in the hospital. Vivian is suffering from dementia and is being treated for the effects of her fall.

The Chronicle has also been inundated with e-mails and calls from readers wanting to send checks directly to the twins or donate driving services to Marian. One person offered two burial plots in Colma after reading that Marian is worried about not being able to afford side-by-side sites.

Jewish Family and Children's Services is helping to provide financial aid to the twins. Barbara Farber, the group's development director, said the organization has received hundreds of donations.

"The twins are getting the care they need now," Farber said. "Each donation counts, and all of them together makes this care possible."

How to help

Jewish Family and Children's Services' website, www.jfcs.org, has a donation link on its home page titled "Help Marian and Vivian Brown and Others Like Them." Checks can be made out to "JFCS, Emergency Assistance in SF," and mailed to JFCS, 2150 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115.

Latest from the Chron.com Homepage

Click below for the top news from around the Houston area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.